Movable-reading-lens holder.



C. A. MEILICKEI MOVABLE READING LENS HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-19; I914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

c. A. MEILICKE.

MOVABLE READING LENS HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. I914- Patented Aug. 10 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.r i I .35 36 4 wulCmvw:

. its reading position.

UNITED STATES PATENT clarion.

CARL A. MEILICKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOVABLE-READING-LENS HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10,1915.

Application filed February 19, 1914. Seria. No. 819,670.

lating machines and the like,) wherein the reading lens is mounted forpivotal movement in one direction to place it in or remove it fromposition for use, and is slidingly adjustable in another direction tovary A further ob'ect of my invention "is to provide a reading glassmounting and setting wherein "the lens, relatively large and shaped foreffective magnifying qualities covering a relatively large readingfield, may be adequately protected so that it is not liable to fractureor damage due to its positioning movements, or to expansion andcontraction. I

Other objects of my invention will be ap-. parent to those skilled inthe art from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of acalculating machine equipped with my invention;

.Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is anenlarged section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.- Fig. 4: is an enlargedsectionaldetail of the rollerdrnd spring mechanism; Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail of a lens retaining clip and contiguous parts; Fig. 6 isan end elevation, ,with parts broken away, showing a friction gripmechanism associated with the reading glass rock shaft; Fig.

gagement of the arms with the flat-faced or polygonal bar beingpreferably relatively loose, so as to allow some pivotal lost motionbetween the lens carrying frame and the slide bar. The slide bar ismounted" to be rocked in end bearings, to enable the lens carrying frameto be raised and lowered, out of. and into the reading plane, and thesliding movement of the frame along the slidebar enables it to bepositioned in the precise reading position desired.

When in lowered or operative position a portion of the lens holdingframe relatively. remote from the slide bar has a gravity-' maintainedbearing upon a slide way; and such cooperative relation is effectedbetween the means employed for restricting the pivotal throw of theflat-faced slide bar 13 andthe bearing members remote from the pivotalaxis of said rod, that the lens frame may be given the capacity forfreely sliding upon the bar 13 without cramping or binding due toengagement of arms 12 with the bar 13. Thus in the particularconstruction shown, the lens frame 11 is provided at its lower end witha boss 15 in which is mounted the guide roller structure 16 providing anantifriction roller 17 for coaction with a slide way 18 suitably mountedon the frame of the machine. The boss 15 is preferably bored andcounter-bored toprovide a recess 19-19 of two diameters, and the roller17 is mounted in the head 20 from which extends the stem 21'2l of twodiameters to I correspond with the diameters of the counter-bore. Aspring 22 interposed between the base of the bore of larger diameter andthe base of the larger diameter of the stem presses the roller-headoutward, giving the roller-head a resilient capacity for reciprocationlimited, in the specific construction shown, by the throw of the slot 23in the stem relative to a screw 24-mounted on the boss, said screw andslot also preventing the roller-carrying head from ro-v tating. Theposition of the slide-way 18 on the machine frame is such that when thelens frame is brought to operative or reading position gravity tends tomaintain the contact between the roller 17 and its slideway.

The rotative or pivotal movements of the slide bar 13 are opposed by afriction de- 1 vice, preferably adjustable as the frictional grip. Thus,in the particular construction shown, the slide bar 13 has cylindricalend portions 13 (Fig. 7) engaged in brackets 26,

of screws 27 in the slots 28 in the bases of the brackets 26. Beyond oneof said brackets 26 a bearing part 13 of the bar has mounted thereon afriction head 30, preferably provided with a leather or other frictionalsurface covering 31 (Figs. 6 and 7). A brake band or split ring 32encompasses the friction disk and is adjustable as to tensionbyasuitable screw 33 takin through its two split limbs. A pin 35 pro]ectsfrom the brake band and engages in the bracket 26, so that the bandexerts a constant resistance to pivotal movement of the slide bar 13. Apin 36 carried by the disk 30 is arranged to coact with the upper edgeof the bracket 26 toact as a stop against overthrowing of thelens-carrying frame when the latter is raised to out-of-use position.

The particular machine with which I have shown the parts employed forembodiment of my present invention to be connected, is a calculatingmachine, and I will hereindescribe the use of my invention with respectto that particular application thereof, although it will be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to the character of themachine to which the reading glass is applied, and thatmany changesmight be made in the specific embodiment thereof within the spirit ofthe present invention and the scope of the appended claims forutilization of the invention in connection with other machines; Byreference to some of the characteristics of the calculating machine,however, some of the advantages of my present invention will beaccentuated.

The. calculating machine shown provides a frame or casing 40 carryingthe lensmountings and having a sight opening protected by a glass 41 setin a rim frame of which the slide way 18 may form a part. Beneath thereading glass there is displayed a fixed scale or index 42, having areading line opening 43 through which is displayed a single line offigures, which is one of the many horizontal lines carried by arotatable chart-drum 44. It is for easy reading of the indicia upon thefixed and movable charts or scales that the magnifying lens is primarilyprovided as the figures are necessarily small.

It will be apparent that unimpeded dropping of the relatively heavylensin its frame so that its roller 17 might forcibly strike theslideway 18 constituting part of the retaining frame for the glass 41would be very apt to break the glass 41 and possibly the reading glass,and to bend, dent or improperly jar the machine-casing, and. for thesereasons, among others, the frictional restraint is preferably alwaysimposed upon the pivotal movements of the slide bar 13.

Furthermore as it is decidedly advantageous to have the magnifying lenslarge enough to cover a considerable longitudinal area of and for thesereasons, among others, I provide a special lens mountingwhich I havefound to be very advantageous, particularly with respect to therelatively large and thick lens employed.

The lens is preferably of somewhat ovate, plano-convex form having aflat bottom chord as at 10'.

The lens frame 11 isconstructed to provide at 11 a square bearing forthe squared, and relatively thick, straight edge 10 of the glass, andthroughout the balance of its perimeter where it engages the glass, itis preferably beveled or concaved as at 11? (see Fig. 3) to engagesmoothly the convex surface of the lens along its border.

Glass retaining clips 11 are secured to the under side of the frame,each clip being preferably made ofspring metal shaped to provide a base11, secured directly to the metal lens-frame, and a head 11 archedsomewhat (see Fig. 3) for engagement at its tip or edge only with theglass, and preferably arranged so that its gripping edge lies beneaththe inner perimeter of the lens rim 11. The glass, therefore, has acertain capability of expanding with the shoulder or fiat surface 10 asa base, the beveled or wedgeaction engagement between the convex borderof the glass and rim at all other points permitting some come-and-go towhich the spring" clips may slightly yield. Such action of course isvery slight, but I find that the construction described adequatelyprevents marginal chipping or checking of the glass under expansion andcontraction. Also the support of the glass from below upon the slightlyspringy clipsgives a slight but effective resiliency to the mount- .ingin the direction of the thickness of the lens, while the securing of theglass against bodily displacement is simply attained.

The operation of the device will be as follows: When the glass is not tobe used, it is lifted, the bar 13 turning against the resistance of thefriction plate until pin 36 bears onthe top edge of its adjacent bracket26 as a positive stop. When the glass is re turnedto reading position,it carries with it in rotation the slide-bar 13, and the glass isbrought down not only until the antifrictional roller 17 touches theslide way 18, but it is depressed farther, until the boss 15 hastraveled downward to the extent permitted by the play of screw 24 inslot 23, against the resistance of spring 22, thereby turning the bar 13through a slight degree of angular displacement'greater than that toitslposition for use, the apertures in the arm v12 are loosened on thebar 13 due to the slight pivotal lost motion between the arms'and bar,and may slide freely without any clutch action on the bar, the weight ofthe lens and frame being borne jointlyrby the bar 13 and the slideway18. It will be observed of course that therange of throw allowed by slot23,;for over-depression of the .lens frame, must be properlyproportioned so that the spring return movement does not reversely bindthe arms 12 upon the bar 13, but moves said arms rotarily with respectto the bar only within the slight range of lost motion left between theapertures in said arms 12 and the bar 13. x

I find in practice that the construction above described is of verygreat advantage, giving to the lens carrier a perfect freedom ofmovement in sliding which facilitates rapid and accurate manipulation ofthe lens. The frictional grip. of the brake band on the friction disk isgenerally best regulated so as to hold the bar 13 against slippage inany pivotal position to which it may be moved, so to avoid anypossibility of the lens falling to reading position, however carelesslyit may be handled. The lens mounting described may, of course, bevaried, according to the requirements of the lens, as may other detailsof construction, but I have found in commercial construction that thelens holding arrangement herein described, is very satisfactory in itsprevention of edge cracking, checking, or breakage of the lens.

The same equipment of bar-,lens frame,

' etc., shown herein as attached to a calculating machine, may be usedon other machines, with onlychanges in proportions and incidentaldetails, and the proper parts are of course subject to separate sale asan attachment set for any machine where a horizontally slidable readinglens is desirable.

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim with a view anddesire'to secure by Letters Patent is o ,1. The combination'wi'th abody, of separated supports, a slide bar mounted to rock said bodyparalleling said slide bar, and a.

in said supports, a guide 'way carried by lens frame mounted to rockwith and slide on said bar and when in position for use to receivebearing from said slide way,

2. The combination with a body, of separated supports, a slide barrotatably mountsite side of the lens frame for cooperation with theguide when the lens frame is in position for use.

3. The combination with a body, of separated supports, a slide barmounted to rock in said supports, a guide way carried by said bodyparalleling said slide bar, a lens frame mounted to rock with and slideon said bar and when in position for use to receive bearing from saidslide way and resilient means to permit movement of said lens frame pastits said position of bearing on the slide-way for resilient restorationto thesaid position, thereby to prevent crampbar mounted to rockthereon, a lens frame mounted on said bar with some pivotal lost motion,to rock therewith and to slide thereon; a slide way member for affordinghearing to the lens frame remote from the slide bar, resilient means topermit movement of the lens frame beyond the normal position defined bysaid slide bar for spring return thereby to prevent cramping of the lensframe on the slide bar and friction means gpposing rocking movements ofthe slide 5. The combination of a body providing separated supports anda slide way remote therefrom, a flat-faced slide bar mounted to rock insaid supports, a lens frame mounted on said'bar with some pivotal lostmotion to rock therewith and to slide thereon, and spanning the spacebetween the slide bar and the slide way, and a resilient bearing memberfor coaction with said slide way carried by said lens frame.

6. The combination of a body providing separated supports and a slideway remote therefrom, a flat-faced slide bar mounted to rock in saidsupports, a lens frame mounted on said bar with some pivotal lost motionto rock therewith and to slide thereon, and spanning the space betweenthe slide bar and the slide way, a resilient bearing memher for coactionwith said slide way carried by said 'lensframe, and means for opposingrocking movements of said slide bar.

7. In a machine of the character described the combination of a bodyproviding a slide w'ay, supports spaced apart therefrom and from eachother, a flat faced slide bar mounted in said supports to rock thereinand arranged'paralle'l to the slide way, a lens frame mounted on saidbar to rock therewith and to slide thereon, and spanning the space tosaid slide way, a friction means .for opposing rocking movements of saidslide bar, and an antifrictional roller for bearing on said slide way,carried by said lens frame and yieldably mounted thereon for the purposedescribed:-

8. The combination of .a lens having a Ill) tions thereof arranged tointerfit With the convex surface of the lens and spring clips 15 holdingsaid lens With its convex surface against said curved portions of theframe and its chord portion upon the flat part of the frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my 20 hand in the presence of tWoWitnesses.

CARL A. MEILIGKE.

In the presence of STANLEY W. COOK, MARY F. ALLEN.

